World Bird Wednesday - XXXI

Some days when I am walking to and fro, the birds just seem to have a better color to them. Last weekend was one of those days. Most of these birds are ones I normally see, but they just seemed a little more vibrant.

I also saw a few Northern Rough-Winged Swallows. Not a great picture, but a new bird for me.

another update to Dykes Marsh

It looks as though there are 3 Ospreys chicks in the nest down at Dykes Marsh. A couple of pictures of my trip down there yesterday.

Busy Nest 

Take-off for more food

World Bird Wednesday XXIX

I guess I missed another week last week. In my defense, it was a holiday week and those get crazy.

This week is all about a flycatcher. It is the Eastern Kingbird and they are a summer resident in Northern Virginia. It is one of the 6 in the Kingbird family. In the summer, it is common around semi-open habitat like my lake. They are often around water. They are solitary or small family groups, but they can be in a flock of hundreds during migration. They hang out on open branches and look for insects to eat. The white tip on their tail is an indicator that it is an Eastern Kingbird.

I have seen a bunch of these around the lake recently and fewer insects. Go figure....

Another type of Flycatcher, I noticed that the Barn Swallows have made a nest inside the lake spill control platform. (I know I said that this was only about the Eastern Kingbird)